Confection forming machine and method

ABSTRACT

A MACHINE FOR EXTRUDING FORM-SUSTAINING PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY CONFECTION NOVELTIES OR THE LIKEL, INCLUDING A PAIR OF ROTARY TURRENTS MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT PARALLEL AXES, EACH TURRET HAVING TUBE ASSEMBLIES FOR FREEZING THE CONFECTION MATERIAL. THE TURRETS ARE INDEXED BY A CAM AND FOLLOWER MECHANISMS. AS THEY ARE INDEXED THE MATERIAL IS PLACED IN THE TUBE ASSEMBLIES WHICH ARE THEN COOLED TO SOLIDIFY THE MATERIAL AND THEN WARMED FOR A SHORT DURATION TO FREE THE MATERIAL FROM THE TUBE ASSEMBLIES. COOLANT AND WARMANT ARE CONTROLLED BY ROTARY VALVE MECHANISM. EACH TUBE ASSEMBLY INCLUDES A TUBULAR CONFECTION RECEPTACLE COVERED BY A COOLING JACKET. THE CONFECTION MATERIAL IS FED INTO THE RECEPTACLE AGAINST A SLIDING PISTON WHICH IS ALSO USED TO FORCE THE CONFECTION MATERIAL FROM THE TUBE ASSEMBLY. THE PISTON IS MOVED BY A PUSHING MECHANISM WHICH INCLUDES AN ELONGATED ROD AND A PAIR OF FIXED AND MOVABLE CLAMPING PLATES. THE PLATES ARE PROVIDED WITH HOLES THAT ENCIRCLE THE ELONGATED ROD AND GRIP THE ROD WHEN A PLATE IS CANTED. THE ROD IS RAISED IN STEPS BY HOLDING THE ROD WITH ONE CANTED PLATE WHILE RAISING THE PLATE, THEN HOLDING THE ROD WITH THE OTHER CANTED PLATE AND RELEASING THE FIRST AND LOWERING IT. THE CONFECTION MATERIAL IS MOVED FROM THE TUBE ASSEMBLIES INTO AN EXTRUDER MECHANISM. THE EXTRUDER MECHANISM INCLUDES AN OUTER EXTRUDER TUBE HAVING A DIE AT ITS UPPER END AND CIRCUMSCRIBES AN INNER RESERVOIR TUBE WHEN IN A RETRACTED POSITION. THE EXTRUDED TUBE IS EXTENDED BY FILLING IT WITH CONFECTION MATERIAL FROM THE RESERVIOR TUBE. A GATE CLOSES OFF THE INLET END OF THE RESERVOIR TUBE AND THE EXTRUDER IS RETRACTED TO EXTURDE THE CONFECTION MATERIAL THROUGH THE DIE ONTO STICKS SUSPENDED ABOVE THE EXTRUDING ASSEMBLY. THE STICKS ARE MOUNTED IN A PLURALITY OF STICK-HOLDERS CARRIED BY A CONVEYOR OVERLYING THE ROTARY TURRETS ONE METHOD COMPRISES COOLING AN EXTRUDABLE MATERIAL TO A FORM-SUSTAINING CONSITUENCY, PLACING A STICK IN POSITION ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH, MOVING AN EXTRUDING ORIFICE ALONG THE PATH AND OVER THE STICK, EXTRUDING THE MATERIAL THROUGH THE ORIFICE AS IT IS MOVED ALONG THE PATH OVER THE STICK WHEREBY THE MATERIAL IS LEFT ON THE STICK AS THE ORIFICE PASSES IT, AND SEVERING THE EXTRUDED MATERIAL FROM THE MATERIAL REMAINING IN THE ORIFICE. BY ARRANGING THE TUBE ASSEMBLIES ADJACENT ONE ANOTHER THE MACHINE MAY EXTRUDE AND FILL SIMULANEOUSLY ENABLING THE FILLIGN MECHANISM TO FEED A CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF CONFECTION MATERIAL INTO ALTERNATE CONFECTION RECEPTACLES. FINALLY, THE STICKS ARE HELD IN A SLOT FORMED BY TWO OPPOSED BODY MEMBERS THAT ARE HELD TOGETHER BY A RUBBER RING. THE STICKS ARE RELEASED BY PRESSING ON THE TOPS OF THE BODY MEMBER TO ROCK THEM OPEN. THE BODY MEMBERS ARE CARRIED ON A CONVEYOR THAT IN MOVED BY A RATCHET TYPE DRIVE.

NOV. 23, 1971 K, LQRZ ETAL 32L195 CONFECTION FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 10, 1969 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS DONALD E. RASMUSSEN FORREST C. SMITH KENNETH A LORZ ATTORNEYS Nov, 23, 1971 K. A. LORZ ETI'AL 3,621,795

CONFECTION FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD INVENTURS v I v 33 DONALD E. RASMUSSEN I FORREST c. SMITH BY KENNETH A. LORZ NOV. 23, 1971 LQRZ ETAL CONFECTION FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 10, 1969 INVENTORS DONALD E. RASMUSSEN FORREST c. SMITH BY KENNETH A. LORZ ATT NEYS 'STAGNANT Nov. 23,1971 LQRZ EI'AL 3,621,795

CONFECTION FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 10. 1969 lo sh96tS-$h69t 4.

INVENTORS DONALD E. RASSMUSSEN FORREST C. SMITH KENNETH A. LORZ BY U ATTORNEYS NOV. 23, 1971 K. LQRZ ETAL CONFECTION FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 10. 1969 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 m s m W Z E R N HWWO M M l Wmf .n M M D 1 LE AR WWW DFK 8 9 8 2 I 0 B 2 M h I 2 4 4 I I 3 0 1Q Nov. 23, 1971 K. A. LORZ ETAL CONFECTION FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 10, 1969 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTORS DONALD E. RASMUSSEN.

FORREST C. SMITH KENNETH A. LORZ WWMAL ATTORNEYS NOV. 23, 1971 LORZ ETAL CONFECTION FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD l0 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed April 10. 1969 QNN QHQ QN QE NMT Nov. 23, 1971 LORZ ETAL 3,621,795

CONFECTION FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 10, 1969 10 Sheets-Sheet J INVENTORS DONALD E. RASMUSSEN FORREST C. SMITH KENNETH A. LORZ BY ,eawwe ATTORNEYS Nov. 23, 1971 K LORZ ETAL CONFECTION FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed April 10. 1969 N E w H SUTW R M l O O S M L T A S N R A wa H N T I D S U L E A R N N R N OE mFK ATTORNEYS flnited States Patent Ofice 3,621,795 CONFECTION FORG MACHINE AND METHOD Kenneth A. Lorz, Oroville, Donald E. Rasmussen, Kennewick, and Forrest C. Smith, Richland, Wash, assignors to Kamino Industries, Incorporated, Yakima, Wash. Filed Apr. 10, 1969, Ser. No. 815,041 Int. Cl. F25c 7/22 US. Cl. 107-8 31 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for extruding form-sustaining products, particularly confection novelties or the like, including a pair of rotary turrets mounted for rotation about parallel axes, each turret having tube assemblies for freezing the confection material. The turrets are indexed by a cam and follower mechanism. As they are indexed the material is placed in the tube assemblies which are then cooled to solidify the material and then warmed for a short duration to free the material from the tube assemblies. Coolant and warmant are controlled by rotary valve mechanism. Each tube assembly includes a tubular confection receptacle covered by a cooling jacket. The confection material is fed into the receptacle against a sliding piston which is also used to force the confection material from the tube assembly. The piston is moved by a pushing mechanism which includes an elongated rod and a pair of fixed and movable clamping plates. The plates are provided with holes that encircle the elongated rod and grip the rod when a plate is canted. The rod is raised in steps by holding the rod with one canted plate while raising the plate, then holding the rod with the other canted plate and releasing the first and lowering it. The confection material is rnoved from the tube assemblies into .an e'xtruder mechanism. The extruder mechanism includes an outer extruder tube having a die at its upper end and circumscribes an inner reservoir tube when in a retracted position. The extruded tube is extended by filling it with confection material from the reservoir tube. A gate closes off the inlet end of the reservoir tube and the extruder is retracted to extrude the confection material through the die onto sticks suspended above the extruding assembly. The sticks are mounted in a plurality of stick-holders carried by a conveyor overlying the rotary turrets.

One method comprises cooling an extruable material to a form-sustaining constituency, placing a stick in position along a predetermined path, moving an extruding orifice along the path and over the stick, extruding the material through the orifice as it is moved along the path over the stick whereby the material is left on the stick as the orifice passes it, and severing the extruded material from the material remaining in the orifice. By arranging the tube assemblies adjacent one another the machine may extrude and fill simultaneously enabling the filling mechanism to feed a continuous supply of confection material into alternate confection receptacles. Finally, the sticks are held in a slot formed by two opposed body members that are held together by a rubber ring. The sticks are released by pressing on the tops of the body members to rock them open. The body members are carried on a conveyor that is moved by a ratchet type drive.

BACKBROUND OF THE INVENTION Description of the prior art Two commercially available types of confection forming machines heretofore used are known as the VitaLine machine, manufactured by the FMC Corporation in Sacramento, Calif, and the Gram machine manufactured by 3,62,795 Patented Nov. 23, 1971 Brodrene Gram A/S in Vojens, Denmark. The VitaLine machine is an in-line machine wherein the confection is frozen in molds. Rasmusson U.S. Pat. No. 3,031,978, shows a typical form of the VitaLine machine. The Gram machine is a rotary type machine also using molds for forming the confection. A typical form of this machine is similar to that shown in Hoyer US. Pat. No. 3,035,686. There are many disadvantages to using either of these machines which employ molds for freezing the confection material. Primarily the disadvantages are the expense of making the molds, which are generally required by law to be of stainless steel, and the expense of cleaning and handling the molds. Such machines, particularly of the in-line type, also require a large amount of floor space in order to get enough molds in use for commercial production.

A different concept for forming confection products employs continuous extrusion. In general, although development work has been done on experimental extrusion machines, none has been known to be commercially successful. A primary reason for this is that it has been impossible to reliably get a well-shaped product and to retain the product on the stick through the extrusion and subsequent handling operations. One of these prior extruding techniques is shown in the Cummings et al. US. Pat. No. 2,859,714. A second technique is shown in the Johansen US. Pat. No. 2,629,346. The concept employed in both of these patents is to move a stick into the extruded confection material. For example, in the Cummings et a1 patent the sticks are inserted transversely of the direction of flow as the material is extruded from a nozzle. In the Iohansen patent the sticks are inserted cndwise or longitudinally of the direction of flow. In both cases, however, there is relative movement between the sticks and the confection material as the product is being extruded. As the stick is a source of resistance to the flow the consequence of the relative movement between the stick and the material as the material is extruded is that the stick is moved off-center resulting in a product that falls or tends to fall off the stick. In some instances the SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION By the use of a unique extrusion concept applicant has provided a compact, inexpensive, versatile extruding machine capable of producing wide varieties of shaped products at substantially less cost. By the use of a turret or drum type freezing arrangement and low temperature coolant the machine can produce large quantities of products in a short time.

Thus, important features of this invention are the method and apparatus for performing a unique extruding technique. The basic concept of this technique is that a spindle or stick is held stationary while a formsustaining material is being extruded over it. Thus there is no relative movement between the stick and the material to deflect the stick or to weaken the bond between the stick and the product. The material is preferably a movable die for shaping the products permits the versatility of countless novelty shapes, with or without sticks, and without the need for expensive individual molds as in the machines presently in use.

Apparatus for carrying out this technique uniquely employs an extruding chamber that is extended over the stick. The chamber is filled with a charge of confection material and when the chamber is retracted, the charge of material is progressively deposited through an orifice onto the stick, i.e. the stick is immersed in the confection material while in the extruding chamber and the extruding orifice is more or less withdrawn over the material leaving the product on the stick. The concept employed is also applicable to forming products other than confections so long as the material used is extrudable and form-sustaining.

Several other unique features, relating both to the overall machine and to the particular extruding concept, are also of importance and these features have applications other than in the extrusion of confection products. One of these features is a combined rotary turret which holds a plurality of freezing tube assemblies for confection or the like and a rotary valve for controlling the How of coolant and warmant to the tube assemblies. The rotary turret and valve advantageously provide for maximum cooling efficiency and minimum use of floor space. Another feature is the combination of a rotary turret and an indexing mechanism for providing intermittent rotation to the turret. The indexing mechanism includes cam means configured to slowly accelerate and decelerate the turret, intermittently locking the turret precisely in a properly aligned position.

Still another feature is that each of the tube assemblies within the turret uniquely includes a cooling jacket circumscribing tubular confection receptacles with end sealing caps both closing off the jackets and supporting the receptacles. In addition, a movable piston combines with each receptacle to provide a movable fioor or end wall for the receptacle such that a charge or multiple charges of material may be fed into the receptacle and then may be easily removed simply by applying an external force against the piston.

Another feature of the invention is to provide for continuous filling of the machine so that the texture of the ice cream product is not impaired and so that the extruding equipment is compatible with existing ice cream mixing equipment. This is accomplished by filling alternate confection receptacles with the material so that the material is constantly flowing from the mixing equipment.

Still another feature is the pushing mechanism for raising the piston in the confection receptacles. This feature provides a simple, exact, relatively inexpensive mechanism for moving multiple charges of confection material from the confection receptacles. The pushing mechanism employs a jacking technique for raising a pushing rod into the receptacle.

Still other features are the use of unique stick holders that allow for ease of stick loading and releasing and to a conveyor for moving the stick holders. The stick holders employ body halves biased together to hold a stick and rockable outwardly to release the stick.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic plan of a confection forming apparatus embodying the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, with certain parts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section of one of the rotary turrets shown in FIG. 2, with certain parts removed for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section of the rotary valve portion of the rotary turret taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG, 6, with certain parts broken away for .claritv;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section of one of the freezing tube assemblies shown in the rotary turret of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a plan of the rotary valve shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan showing the cam mechanism for indexing the rotary turret;

FIG. 8 is a vertical section of the indexer taken along the line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a vertical transverse section of the indexer taken along the line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an elevation of one of the pushing mechanisms shown in FIG. 2, with certain parts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 11 is a horizontal section of the pushing mechanism, taken along the line 1111 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an elevation of the extruding mechanism shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 is a horizontal section through the extruding mechanism shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 1414 of the extruding mechanism shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 1515 of the extruding mechanism shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary elevation of the scissors mechanism shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary elevation of the conveyor mechanism shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 18 is a vertical section of the conveyor mechanism taken along the line 1818 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a vertical section of the stick holder taken along the line 19--19 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary vertical section of the conveying mechanism taken along the line 20-20 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 21 is an operational view showing the stick holder in a stick releasing position;

FIGS. 22A-22D are schematic operation views showing the sequence for forming a form'sustaining product;

FIG. 23 is an operational schematic view illustrating the entire confection forming process; and

FIGS. 24A24D are schematic operational views showing the sequence of extruding and severing a product.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The confection forming equipment embodying the principles of the invention, in general, is best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 23 and includes a pair of rotary turrets 20, 21 each having a plurality of tube assemblies 22 arranged in two concentric rings. A filling mechanism 24 is arranged to deliver a continuous supply of confection material to the tube assemblies. The equipment for supplying the confection material from the mixing machine is conventional and is entirely independent of the forming equipment. The confection material is cooled to a somewhat frozen, extrudable and form-sustaining condition in the tube assemblies 22. The pumps and equipment installed in the forming machine include a conventional hydraulic pumpreservoir-valve system 26 secured in any suitable manner on the base of a frame 28 which supports the rotary turrets. This equipment may also be remotely located. Various other well known components, such as an air supply, electrical control circuitry and the like are also provided in a conventional manner but for purposes of brevity and clarity are not shown.

The coolant and warmant used to control the temperature of the tube assemblies are controlled by upper and lower rotary valves 32 and 33 positioned on each turret. Inasmuch as both turrets and associated equipment are identical, further description is hereafter limited to one of the rotary turrets, it being understood that the description applies equally to the other unless otherwise specified. The coolant and warmant are supplied by a conventional pump-motor-tank system 34 and a heat exchanger (not shown). The preferred coolant is ethylene glycol.

cooled to a temperature of about to 25 F., depending on rate of production, to obtain a temperature of about -15" F. at the center of the confection and an average temperature throughout of about 8 F. The temperatures, of course, can vary depending upon the constituency of the confection material and the rate of production.

A suitable inlet conduit 37 and outlet conduit 38 are provided to direct the flow to and from the rotary valves. Although the equipment for controlling the flow of confection material and coolant and warmant are shown mounted on the base of the frame 28 it should be understood that this equipment can be mounted elsewhere, such as off the frame or in a separate room.

After the confection material has been cooled to a formsustaining temperature the material is released from the inner wall of the tube assemblies by the introduction of a warmant, at about 35 F., and the material is then removed from the tube assemblies by a pushing mechanism 40. The confection material is pushed into an extruding mechanism 42 disposed above the rotary turret. In the extruding mechanism the confection material is extruded onto a plurality of sticks carried by stick holders of a conveyor mechanism 44 arranged to travel above the rotary turrets.

As is best shown in FIG. 1 the conveyor mechanism 44 suitably overlies the two turrets 20, 21, tying them together into a complete confection forming and packing faciltiy having several processing stations. At a first station the conveyor is propelled or pushed; at a second station four products are extruded; at the next station the products are coated; at the next station the products are allowed to dry; at the following station the products are packaged; and finally fresh sticks are loaded onto the conveyor ata loading station. The products are stored in a hardening room until of sufficiently low temperature for shipment. The conveyor moves at a rate sufiicient to handle about sixty four-ounce products per hour, as a typical example. It should be understood, of course, that although the conveyor is incorporated with two individual machines it could easily be modified to accommodate a single machine where a lower production rate is adequate.

ROTARY TURRET The rotary turret 20 is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 23 and includes a shaft 48 mounted for rotation in upper and lower bearings 50 and 51 (FIG. 4) that are secured to the frame 28. The turret includes a circular top plate 52, a bottom plate 54 and a cylindrical cover 56 joining the two plates. An insulating material 57, such as vermiculite, fills the interspace around the tube assemblies 22 within the cover 56. The bottom plate is also supported by a plurality of tension bars 58. The upper ends of the tension bars are secured to a spider 59 resting on the end surface of an enlarged portion of the shaft 48, whereas the lower ends are bolted to the underside of the bottom plate 54. The tube assemblies 22 are secured between the end plates in two concentric rings, namely, an outer ring 22a and an inner ring 22b. Fewer or a greater number of rings may be used, if desired. Equidistantly spaced, rotatable cam followers 60 (one for each set of inner ad outer tube assemblies) are secured to the bottom plate for the purpose of rotating the turret in a manner to be later described.

ROTARY VALVE The top and bottom plates 52, 54 of the rotary turret have aligned central apertures which receive the rotary valves 32, 33. The two rotary valves are substantially identical; therefore, only the upper valve 32 will be described. As best shown in FIG. 4 the rotary valve 32 includes an inner valve plate 62 pinned to the top plate 52 over the central aperture and keyed to the shaft 48 to rotate therewith. The inner valve plate is provided with a plurality of inner and outer ports 64, 65. Each inner and outer port is associated with a corresponding inner or outer tube assembly. The flow of liquid coolant or warmant through the rotary turret is from the lower rotary valve through the tube assemblies and out the upper rotary valve, whereas the flow of air to blow-out the coolant or warmant, as will be described in more detail below, is in the reverse direction. Short metal connectors 66 are secured, as by soldering, in each of the ports. Attached to each connector is a piece of plastic tubing 68 or the like which communicates with an associated tube assembly 22.

The rotary valve also includes an outer valve plate 70 fixed to the frame 28 by a plurality of stop screws 72. A plurality of compression springs 74 circumscribe the stop screws and bias the outer valve plate against the inner plate. The mating surfaces of the inner and outer valve plates are machined to produce a finish not to exceed about 16 micro-inches roughness so that a metal-to-metal seal is produced between the two valve plates. A suitable seal is provided with a biasing pressure sufficient to overcome the coolant and warmant pressures, which typically are in the range of about 20-30 p.s.i.g.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the upper valve plate 70 contains a plurality of supply ports 76 arranged in two concentric circular segments extending over approximately a quarter of the circumference of the valve plate. These individual ports allow the contents of the coolant or warmant in the tube assemblies to be varied individually to obtain the desired temperature characteristics. For example, moving in the counterclockwise direction the first set of inner and outer supply ports are connected to an air supply to blow the coolant out of the tube assemblies. For the next set of eight inner and outer supply ports warmant is circulated through the tube assemblies; however, if less circulating warmant is desired fewer than the eight sets of ports can be used. Eight sets of ports are considered the maximum number required to supply sufficient warmant for most confection mixes. In the ninth or next to the last set of inner or outer ports the warmant is not circulated, that it, it remain stagnant and is held in this manner while the confection material is extruded. Finally the last set of ports is connected again to an air supply for blowing the warmant out of the tube assemblies. The upper valve plate is also provided with an elongated channel 77 covering approximately the remaining three-quarters of the circumference of the upper valve plate. As will be readily apparent the channel covers a large number of the inner and outer ports 64, 65 simultaneously. The channel communicates with a pair of coolant pipes 78 which maintain a continuous supply of coolant into the inner and outer ports 64, 65 while positioned beneath the channel. It may thus be seen that an individual tube assembly receives a continuous supply of coolant for about three-quarters of its path of rotation and then selectively receives air or warmant during the remaining quarter of rotation.

FREEZING TUBE ASSEMBLIES Each freezing tube assembly 22 is identical, therefore only one will be described. As best shown in FIG. 5, each freezing tube assembly 22 includes an outer jacket 82 and a tubular confection receptacle 84 mounted within the packet. The jacket is fabricated of plastic pipe or the like, whereas the receptacle is of stainless steel for sanitation purposes. The receptacle is suspended within the jacket by upper and lower closure caps 86 suitably sealed to the jacket, as by bonding, and against the receptacle by conventional O-ring seals 88. The plastic tubing 68 connected to the upper valve 32 is secured also to the upper closure caps to permit the flow of coolant, warmant, or air into or out of the jacket. The tubing 68 connected to the lower valve 33 is secured to the lower closure cap to permit the flow of coolant, warmant, or air into or out of the jacket. The liquid coolant and warmant are introduced at the bottom of the jacket and flow upwardly out the upper closure cap whereas the flow of air to blow-out the coolant or warmant is in the reverse direction.

The lower closure cap rests in a circular recess 88 provided in the top surface of the bottom plate 54 of the rotary turret. A circular opening 89 is also provided centrally within the recess 88 to permit passage of the pushing mechanism 40 in a manner to be later described. The upper end closure 86 is secured in an opening 89 in the top plate 52 of the rotary turret and is secured to the top plate by a retainer plate 90. The retainer plate has a central cylindrical extension 91 of an inner diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the receptacle 84 so that it forms a seal therearound and serves to retain the upper O-ring seal 88 within the closure cap. The receptacle 84 extends upwardly from the retainer plate a distance of approximately inch. The retainer plate 84 is secured to the top plate 52 by a plurality of cap screws 92.

Each tubing assembly 22 is also provided with a sliding piston 94 of molded, ethylene-vinyl-acetate or the like. The piston serves as a sliding bottom for holding the confection material within the receptacle 84 and also as a plunger for pressing the confection material out of the top of the receptacle. The piston includes reduced central portion 95 and the upper and lower enlarged resilient peripheral edges 96. The diameter of the lower and upper peripheral edges 96 is approximately .010 inch larger than the inside diameter of the tube so that the piston will maintain its position within the tube and will slide downwardly only when pushed by pressure of the confection material introduced into the top of the receptacle.

INDEXING MECHANISM As is best shown in FIGS. 7-9, each rotary turret is provided with an indexing mechanism 100 interm ttently rotating the rotary turrent A of a revolution, 1.e. the distance required to move each successive tube assembly 22 under the extruding mechanism 42. In the preferred embodiment there are 45 tube assemblies arranged in each concentric ring and the preferred duration at the extruding station is 12 seconds. Of course, the number of tube assemblies and the rate or rotation is dependent upon the extrusion and filling rate desired. As the rotary turret when filled with insulation, coolant, warmant, and confection material will weigh about 600 pounds, it is necessary to reduce the acceleration forces acting on the turret as it is indexed. For this purpose, although other indexing means may be used, a unique cam and cam follower mechanism is employed. The indexing mechanism 100 includes a cam 102 having a cam surface 104 shaped to provide a sinusoidal acceleration-deceleration, that is. minimum acceleration at its outer and inner ends and maximum acceleration in its central portion. The cam terminates at its inner end in a locking recess 106. The recess 106 snugly nests the roller with a pair of inner and outer tube assemblies accurately positioned beneath the extruding mechanism 42. When the cam is moved outwardly into the phantom position shown in FIG. 7 the cam surface engages a cam follower or roller 60 to slowly accelerate, slowly decelerate and finally lock the turret by holding the roller in the recess 106. It can be readily seen that the load placed on the heavy rotary turret as it is indexed is thus reduced to a minimum and the tubing assemblies will always be accurately positioned by the nesting of the roller in the locking recess 106.

The cam 102 is pivotally supported on a post 108 secured to a cam support plate 110. The support plate is secured by cap screws to a top slide bar 112 which in turn is secured by additional cap screws to a lower slide bar 114. When joined the slide bars form parallel guide ways 116 which are slidably received on a pair of parallel, spaced guides 118. The support plate 110 is also provided with an upstanding rear wall 120 suitably secured thereto. An adjustment screw 121 is secured to the rear wall and abuts against the rear surface of the cam 102. Thus, by extending or retracting the adjustment screw, the position 8 of the cam may be controlled relative to the support plate and guides 118.

For the purpose of reciprocating the cam 102 a bracket 122 is secured to the underside of the support plate 110 and is secured to an actuating rod of a conventional cylinder and piston type hydraulic actuator 124. The cylinder of the hydraulic actuator is secured to an upright bracket 125 in turn secured to a plate 126 mounted on the frame 128. As is best shown in FIG. 8, the guides 118 are fastened to vertical plates 128 also secured to the plate 126. When the actuating rod of the actuator 124 is extended the support plate 110 and thus the cam 102 is extended into the phantom position shown in FIG. 7, there engaging the cam follower 60 and rotating the rotary turret 20.

PUSHING MECHANISM After the tubular receptacles 84 have been filled with the confection material and the material has been cooled to an extrudable, form-sustaining constituency, it is necessary to transfer the material from the confection receptacle into the extruding mechanism 42. For this purpose the pushing mechanism 40, best shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 22A-D, is provided beneath the rotary turret at the extruding station. Each pushing mechanism 40 includes a air of elongated push rods 132 the upper ends of which are engageable with the pistons 94 within each of the aligned inner and outer tube assemblies 22. Each elongated rod is supported at its upper end in a cylindrical guide 138 secured to the frame 28. The elongated rod is slidably supported adjacent its midpoint in a lower guide 144 which is mounted on a movable in a lower guide 144 which is mounted on a movable plate 145.

Fixed clamping means 146 (in the sense of being fixed to the frame 28) for clamping the elongated rod 132 is also provided on the frame 28. The fixed clamping means includes a clamping plate 146 mounted for pivotal and longitudinal movement at one end on the frame 28. The free end of the plate is provided with a slot 147. The clamping plate is also provided with a circular opening 148 centered in the plate. The opening is of a diameter slightly greater, about ,6 of an inch, than the diameter of the elongated rod 132. As is readily apparent, pivoting or canting the clamping plate will misalign the circular opening to reduce its effective diameter relative to the elongated rod thus effecting a clamping action to hold the rod. A pneumatic actuator 149 is secured to the frame 28 and is provided with an upright T-bar 150 secured to its actuating rod. The T-bar is provided with a pair of threaded studs 152 that are loosely received in the slots 147 and are held therein by nuts 154. By extending the actuating rod of the actuator 149 the clamping plate is brought into a horizontal position to release the elongated rod whereas when the actuating rod is retracted the clamping plate is canted to hold the elongated rod relative to the frame 28. The weight of the rod alone is sufficient to effect the clamping action and any additional downward force on the rod further tightens the clamp.

Movable clamping means 143 (in the sense of being movable relative to the frame 28) are also provided. The movable clamping means includes a clamping plate 156 secured for pivotal and longitudinal movement to the plate 145. The clamping plate 156 is identical to the clamping plate 146. A pneumatic actuator 158 is secured to the plate in a manner identical to the loose connection of the pneumatic actuator 149. When the actuating arm of the pneumatic actuator 158 is extended the clamping plate 156 is horizontal to release the elongated rod 132 whereas when retracted the clamping plate is canted to grip the rod and hold it relative to the plate 145.

The plate 145 is mounted on the actuating arm of a hydraulic raising actuator 160. The stroke of the raising actuator is somewhat greater than one-third the required stroke to empty a confection receptacle 84 and is sufiicient to compress the confection material and move a single charge of material from the receptacle into the extruding mechanism 42. In principle the pushing mechanism 40 operates like a jack. When raised the rod 132 is pushed against the underside of a piston 94 in a confection receptacle 84 to force the confection material upwardly out of the confection receptacle. The elongated rod is raised by first clamping the elongated rod with the clamping plate 156 and releasing the clamping plate 146 and then extending the actuator rod of the raising actuator 160, as shown for example in phantom line in FIG. 10. When the elongated rod 132 has been raised to the desired position, the actuator rod of the pneumatic actuator 149 is retracted to hold the elongated rod and the actuating rod of the actuator 158 is extended to release the rod. Then the actuating rod of the raising actuator is low ered to be set for another jacking cycle, as is best shown in solid lines in FIG. 10. The jacking cycle is then repeated until the elongated rod has traveled the entire length of the receptacle 84. This operation is illustrated in sequence in FIGS. 22A-22D. Other forms of apparatus may be employed to raise the elongated rods, if desired.

FILLING AND EXTRUDING MECHANISMS The filling and extruding mechanisms 24 and 42 are described together as they operate simultaneously in the preferred embodiment. It should be understood, of course, that these mechanisms may be separately located at spaced positlons as long as suflicient time remains between the filling and extruding stations to cool the confection material into a form-sustaining condition.

As best shown in FIG. 12, a pair of bearing mounts 180 are fixed to the frame 28 at the extruding station (FIG. 1) of the confection forming machine. Each bearing mount slidably receives a vertical guide shaft 182. The lower ends of the guide shafts are slidably mounted in lower bearing mounts 184 that are also secured to the frame 28. Each guide shaft is fixed at its upper end to a horizontal movable bracket 186 that extends between the two guide shafts. The bracket is lowered and raised by a palr of hydraulic actuators 187 having short strokes of approximately one-quarter of an inch. The cylinders of the actuators are secured to the bracket and the actuator rods are secured to the frame 28-. Stop bolts 188 are also fixed to the frame 28 and are slidabl received in apertures in the bracket 1-86 to limit the upward movement of the bracket. The purpose of the hydraulic actuators 18-7 is to lower the filling and extruding mechanisms into engagement with the upper ends of the confection receptacles 84 (the phantom position in FIG. 12) during the filling and extending operations.

The filling mechanism 24 includes an inverted U-shaped pipe 190 terminating in spaced lower ends secured in mounting flanges 192. Mounting clips 194 (FIG. 13) overlie each mounting flange and are secured to a generally rectangular mounting plate 196. The mounting flanges 192 are nested in openings 198 in the mounting plate and, as best shown in FIG. 13, it can be seen that the left-hand opening is offset from the right-hand opening so that the openings are aligned along the radius of the rotary turret 20, i.e. the circumferential spacing between the tube assemblies in the outer ring 22a is necessarily greater than the spacing between those in the inner ring 2212. In this manner the left-hand opening is over a confection receptacle 84 in the outer ring of tube assemblies 22 and the right-hand opening is positioned over the adjacent confection receptacle in the inner ring of tube assemblies.

As best shown in FIG. 12, the mounting plate 196 is suspended over the rotary turret 20 by a framework 200 having a pair of laterally extending arms 201. The end of each arm 201 is secured to a guide shaft 182 for movement therewith.

For the purpose of halting the flow of confection material through the ends of the U-shaped pipe, a gate 202 (FIG. 14) is provided for each opening 198. The outer gate, that is the gate over the outer ring of tube assemblies,

is designated 202a and the identical inner gate is designated 20 2b. As these gates are also identical to the gates covering the bottoms of the extruding mechanisms 42 these are respectively designated 203a and 2113b. The further description of a given gate thus applies to all such gates.

Each gate includes an upper guide 204 and a lower guide 206. A pair of spacers 208 separate the guides to form a gateway in which is positioned one of the slidable gates 202a, 202b, 203a or 20%. The lower guide 206 is provided with a chamfered recess 212 for fitting tightly over a confection receptacle 84 when the plate 196 is lowered. As is best shown in FIG. 13, pneumatic actuators 212a, 212b, 213a and 21317 are provided for reciprocating the respective gates 202a, 20 2b, 203a and 20 3b between open and closed positions.

One of the advantages of the filler mechanism 24 is that a continuous flow of confection material can be fed into the U-shaped tube from a mixing machine. It is thus possible to obtain high quality product without incident problems such as undesirable crystalization of the individual confection particles. The continuous feed is accomplished by staggering the actuation of the pneumatic actuators 212a and 2121). When a set of confection receptacles 84 is positioned beneath the filling mechanism, the gate 20212 is closed and the gate 202a is opened. The flow is thus directed into the confection receptacle to the left, i.e. in the confection receptacle 84 in the outer ring 22a, until it is full at which time gate 20212 is closed and gate 20217 is opened so that the flow is then into the inner confection receptacle. Both gates 202a and 20% are closed only during the short interval required to bring the next two confection receptacles 84 into alignment with the filling mechanism 24. If two rotary turrets are employed, the operation of the gates can be further staggered to fill only one of the four adjacent tubes at a time so that the flow is even less impeded.

The extruding mechanism 42 is best shown in FIGS. 12-16 and 24A-24D. The extruding mechanism includes an inner or right-hand (as viewed in FIG. 14) extruding head 21 8 and an outer or left-hand extruding head 219. The extruding heads are identical but parts of each are shown in the various drawings for convenience and thus it shall be understood that the reference characters apply equally to each extruder head. Each extruder head includes a reservoir tube 220 circumscribed by an extruder tube 222. The reservoir tube includes an enlarged lower flange 224 (FIG. 14) secured within openings 226 in the mounting plate 196. The reservoir tubes are secured to the mounting plate by suitable clips 22 8 (FIG. 13) similar to clips 194.

The reservoir tubes are closed with identical gates 203a and 203b, actuated by the pneumatic actuators 213a and 213b, respectively. The gates 203a and 20312 are opened and closed simultaneously so the charges of material in the confection receptacles in the inner and outer rings of tubing assemblies are transferred into the reservoir tubes simultaneously.

The extruder tubes 222 are slidably mounted on the reservoir tubes 2.20 and their upper ends are secured to an upper mounting plate 246 (FIG. 14) by suitable clips 248. Secured to the upper side of the upper mounting plate 246 and in communication with each of the extruder tubes 222 are a pair of dies 250. Each die is provided with a central orifice or opening 252. which in the preferred form is in the shape of a rectangule with curved corners. This is the cross-sectional shape of a conventional ice cream bar; however, one of the unique features of the extruding machine is that the shape of the opening 252 may be varied merely by substituting a different die 250 with a different opening thereby producing products of various shapes without the need of a multiplicity of molds.

A scissors mechanism 254 is secured by a bracket 255 to the mounting plate 246 for movement therewith. The purpose of the scissors mechanism is to sever the extruded product from the confection material in the die 250 and to close off the orifice while the extruder tube is being filled. The scissors mechanism, as is best shown in FIGS. 16 and 24A 24D, includes a pair of diametrically opposed blades 256 which are reciprocated toward and away from one another by a pair of pneumatic actuators 258 fixed to the blades and to the bracket. The blades ride on the tops of the dies 250 so that they effectively seal the orifice 252 when closed. A guide pin 259 is fixed to the bracket 255 by suitable means (not shown) and slides in a guide bearing 260 to accurately align the blades over the orifice plates. When opened by retracting the actuator rods of the pneumatic actuators 258 the blades part a sufficient distance to allow free passage of the extruded material. When closed the blades come together to cleanly sever the product P.

It is of course necessary to place the sticks through the blades 256 as the extruder tube 222 is being raised. For this purpose each blade includes recesses 261, one over each orifice, which are of sufiicient size to hold a stick. A pair of stick guides 262 are also provided over each die. Only one pair of stick guides is shown in FIG. 16 and only one of the pair will be described in detail as all are identical. Each stick guide is mounted in a slide 263 secured to the upper surface of a blade 256. A spring 264 is secured between the stick guide and the slide to bias the stick guide inwardly over the orifice 252. Each stick guide terminates at its inner end in a three sided, chamfered slot 265. When the stick guide is in its innermost position the slot 265 is aligned over the recess 261 so as to provide a spring biased guide surface for directing a stick S through the recess. Thus, as shown in FIG. 24B, the extruder tube 222 is raised over the stick S with the stick being guided by the stick guides 262. Stop members 266 are secured to the opposite vertical sides of the stick guide and are engageable by the outer edge of the slide 263. The stop members position the slot 265 over the recess 261 when the blade is closed and move the stick guide out of the path of the extruded material when the blade is opened.

After the product P is extruded and the blades 256 are to be closed to sever the product from the material it is necessary to hold the stick guides 262 in the outer position so as not to obstruct the product. For this purpose the outer end of each stick guide is provided with a coneshaped opening 267 in the underside thereof. An upright post 268 is secured to the frame 28 and is positioned to enter the opening 267 only when the stick guide is in the outer position and the extruder tube 222 is in the lower position as shown, for example, in FIGS. 24A and 24D. v

The operating sequence of the scissors mechanism 254 is illustrated in FIGS. 24A-24D. In FIG. 24A the blades 256 are closed, the extruder tube 222 is down with the stick guides being held open by the posts 268. In FIG.

24B the confection material has been pushed from the receptacle 84 to raise the extruder tube 222. As the extruder tube begins to rise the stick guides are lifted off the posts 268 and close to guide the sticks S as the extruder tube continues upwardly. In FIG. 24C the blades are opened, carrying the stick guides with them, and the extruder tube is moved downwardly. In FIG. 24D the product P is formed and severed from the material remaining in the die. The extruder tube is in its lower position and the stick guides are again being held by the posts 268.

The extruder tubes 22 2 are raised by the pressure exerted from the confection material pushed into the extruding mechanism by the pushing mechanism 40. Thus the extruder tubes 222 must be mounted for free movement upwardly. For the purpose of guiding the extruder tubes, bearing sleeves 266 (only one being shown in FIG. 14) are positioned in holes in the upper mounting plate 246. Vertical guide shafts 270 (FIG. 14) are slidably positioned in the sleeves. Each guide shaft has a lower end 272 of a reduced diameter and an upper end 274. As is best shown in FIG. 12, the upper ends of the shafts are secured to a cross brace 276 which is secured to the actuating arm of a hydraulic actuator 278. The extruder tubes are biased upwardly by weights (not shown) to minimize the force required to push the extruder tubes up by the confection material. When the confection material is introduced into the extruding mechanism it pushes against the dies 250 and the scissors plates 256 to raise the chamber tubes 22 2 upwardly with the bearing sleeves 266 sliding along the lower ends 272 of the guide shafts 270. When fully raised the material is extruded by retracting the pneumatic actuator 278 so that the upper ends 274 of the guide shafts 270 abut against the bearing sleeves 266 and force the chamber tubes 222 downwardly, thus extruding the material through the dies 250. The scissors plates 256 of the scissors mechanism 254 are open and the gates 203a and 2031) are closed during the downward movement of the extruder tubes 222.

CONVEYOR AND STICK HOLDERS Since in the preferred form the extruder tubes 222 each contains a single charge of confection material, i.e. an amount sufficient to form a single product, it is readily seen that the product may be formed directly on a stick S, spindle or the like. In the preferred form a plurality of stick holders 282 are provided for supporting a stick S in the position directly over the die 250 of each extruder head. Each stick holder, as is best shown in FIGS. 17-21, includes a pair of body members 284 held together by a rubber O-ring 286. The stick holders are guided along the conveying path by sets of elongated guide rails 287 engaging grooves 288 in each body member. As is best shown in FIG. 20, the stick holders are guided around the turns (FIG. 1) of the conveyor path by a pair of guide wheels 290 having an annular ring 291 engaging the grooves 288.

Each body member 284 is also provided with a central semi-cylindrical recess 292 which receives a button 294 swaged on cable 296. The stick holders are moved along the conveyor path by a conventional hydraulic actuator 298. The hydraulic actuator reciprocates an arm 299 secured to the piston arm of the hydraulic actuator 298. A pawl 300 is pivotally secured to the arm. When the arm 299 is retracted the pawl abuts against a stop plate 301. The actuating arm of the hydraulic cylinder has a stroke in excess of the distance required to move four stick holders 282. When extended the pawl 300 thus engages a stick holder 282, and the stick holder is moved forwardly along the conveyor path a distance sufficient to move four successive stick holders into position over the four extruder tubes 222 of the rotary turrets 21, 22. A suitable decelerator, such as a releasable detent 303, is provided, if desired, to assist in accurately positioning the stick holders over the extruder tubes. The four stick holders being replaced of course have products P engaged on the sticks S and are moved downstream along the conveyor path to a subsequent processing station.

Each body member 384 is provided with a vertical groove 302 having a sloped outer end 304. The widths of the grooves when the body members abut is less than the thickness of a stick S. In this manner a stick may be thrust into the grooves 302 at a stick feeding station and is clamped between the body members by the pressure exerted from the O-ring 286. A horizontal plate 305 is provided at the extruding station to abut against the tops of the stick holders as the confection material is raised around the sticks. The plate assists the O-rings in keeping the sticks properly positioned in the stick holders. After product P has been placed on the stick and it is desired to drop the stick and product from the stick holders, the body members are rocked or spread apart as shown in FIG. 21 to release the stick and product. For this purpose a pneumatic actuator 306 (FIG. 21) is provided at the packaging station (FIGS. 1 and 23) and includes a downwardly extending actuator arm terminating in a pusher 13 308. When the actuator arm of the actuator 306 is extended the pusher 308 engages the central top surfaces of the body members 286, causing them to rock about the button 294. To provide for this rocking action each body member is also provided with a chamfered upper edge 310 (FIG. 20).

OPERATION The method of the invention will best be understood with reference to the operation of the preferred embodiment of a machine which is one form of apparatus for carrying out the method. It should be understood, however, that other apparatus may likewise carry out the method and that the invention includes both unique apparatus features and unique method features. Reference is made to FIGS. 1, 2, 22A-22D, '23 and 24A-24D, for the best illustration of the various methods. Sticks S are placed in the stick holders 287 at the loading station and are intermittently forwarded four at a time by the hydraulic actuator 298 at the pushing station. At the extruding station the stick holders and four confection receptacles (one each from the inner and outer rings of the tubing assemblies 22 of the rotary turrets 20, 21) are aligned with the extruder mechanisms 42 The gates 203a and 20 3b are opened and the pusher mechanism 40 is actuated to raise the elongated rods 132, thereby forcing a charge of confection material into the reservoir tubes 220. The previous charges in the reservoir tubes 220 are then pushed upwardly against the inner face of the blades 256 and raise the extruder tubes 222 to their elevated position. As the extruder tubes are raised the sticks become inserted into the orifices 252. At this time the gates 206a (FIG. 13) and 206 b are closed, the blades 256 are opened, and the extruding mechanism 42 is actuated to lower the extruder tubes 222. Since the confection material is trapped within the reservoir tubes 220 it is extruded through the dies 250 as the extruder tubes are lowered. A unique feature of the extrusion is, however, that the sticks S remain stationary and the orifice is merel moved along the stick, leaving the form-sustaining confection material on the stick. When the extruder tubes are at their lowermost position, the scissor mechanism 254 is actuated to close the blades and sever the product P from the confection material remaining in the orifice. The cycle is then repeated, with the second charges in the confection receptacles 84 being moved into the reservoir tubes 220, thus pushing the previous charges into the extruder tubes.

The formed products are then carried by the conveyor mechanism 44 through the subsequent processing stations 'where the products are coated and dried if desired, then packaged and, if necessary, further hardened. The details of the apparatus for coating, drying and packaging and in addition for loading the sticks in the stick holders are not necessary for a full understanding of the invention since conventional equipment may be used for these operations.

The confection material is introduced into the confection receptacles 84 continuously from a mixing machine (not shown) by alternatel filling the confection receptacles from the inner and outer rings. The confection material is then cooled to a form-sustaining temperature during rotation of the turrets through about three-quarters of a revolution. Next the coolant is blown from the tube assemblies and the warmant is introduced to free the boundary layer of the material from the sides of the confection receptacles. At this time the confection material is in a form-sustaining state (although still extrudable) and is pushed from the confection receptacles into the extruding mechanism.

While preferred apparatus for carrying out the improved extruding method has been shown and while several preferred forms of various new techniques for forming confections have been described, it should be understood that other techniques and apparatus will become apparent to one skilled in the art. The preferred 14 forms disclosed, therefore, are in no way limitive and the scope of the invention, which is to be limited solely by appropriate interpretation of the following claims as provided by 35 US. Code 112.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanism for handling extrudable material, through filling, treating and emptying periods, comprising:

a vertically arranged elongated tube having open ends;

piston means slidably disposed within said tube for blocking passage of the material through said tube; means for filling said tube by introducing material into the top of said tube and against said piston means; means for pushing said piston means through said tube for emptying the tube through the top end thereof, and

an upwardly discharging extruder head selectively alignable and engageable with the top end of said tube.

2. The handling mechanism'of claim 1, further including abutment means at the bottom end of said tube for retaining said piston means within the tube.

3. The handling device defined by claim 2, wherein said pushing means includes an elongated rod movable through said abutment means.

4. The handling device defined by claim 3, further including a cooling jacket surrounding said tube.

5. The handling device defined by claim 1, further including a cooling jacket surrounding said tube.

6. A pushing mechanism for an extruding machine having a plurality of freezing tube assemblies movable along a predetermined path, said tube assemblies communicating at a point along said path at their upper ends with an extruding mechanism, said pushing mechanism comprising:

an elongated rod positioned along said path and being insertable upwardly into said freezing tubes;

first fixed clamping means movable between a position holding said rod and a released position; second movable clamping means movable between a position holding said rod and a released position; and

means for raising said second clamping means while in said holding position and while said first clamping means is in said released position thereby raising said elongated rod into a tube assembly.

7. The pushing mechanism defined by claim 6, wherein said clamping means each includes a pivotal plate having a hole circumscribing said elongated rod, the effective horizontal width of said hole being larger than said rod when in an open position and smaller than said rod when in a canted position, and means for moving said plate from said open position towards said canted position.

8. The pushing mechanism defined by claim 7, further including a second elongated rod positioned for movement into a tube assembly adjacent said first tube assembly.

9. The pushing mechanism defined by claim 6, further including a second elongated rod positioned for movement into a tube assembly adjacent said first tube assembly; second sets of fixed and movable clamping means movable between positions holding and releasing said second elongated rod; and wherein said means for raising said second movable clamping means also raises said second set of movable clamping means whereby said raising means operates simultaneously on both said elongated rods.

10. The pushing mechanism defined by claim 9, wherein said raising means includes a hydraulic actuator.

11. An extruder and filling mechanism for a form-sustaining extrudable material, comprising:

a plurality of vertically disposed cylindrical freezing tube assemblies arranged along a predetermined path; an extruder tube positioned over said path and having upwardly discharging die means;

a vertically disposed reservoir tube slidably positioned within said extruder tube and being movable into 15 vertically aligned communication selectively with said freezing tube assemblies;

a material supply conduit positioned over said path;

means for lowering said reservoir tube and said supply conduit into vertically aligned communication with said freezing tube assemblies.

12. The extruder and filling mechanism of claim 11, further including a second set of freezing tube assemblies arranged along a predetermined path adjacent said first predetermined path and a second set of extruder tubes, reservoir tubes and supply conduits positioned Over said second predetermined path.

13. The extruder and filling mechanism defined by claim 12, wherein said first and second predetermined paths are circular.

14. The extruder and filling mechanism defined by claim 13, further including third and fourth sets of freezing tube assemblies arranged along predetermined paths concentric respectively with said first and second predetermined paths;

and further including reservoir tubes and extruder tubes positioned over each of said third and fourth paths; said supply conduits each having an inverted U- shaped dispensing nozzle communicating simultaneously with freezing tube assemblies in two of said concentric paths and means directing a continuous flow of extrudable material through said supply conduits and dispensing nozzles.

15. The extruder and filling mechanism defined by claim 11, further including a plurality of freezing tube assemblies arranged along a second predetermined path adjacent said first path; and wherein said supply conduit includes an inverted U-shaped dispensing nozzle communicating simultaneously with a freezing tube in each path and means directing a continuous How of extrudable material through said supply conduit and said dispensing nozzle.

16. An extruder mechanism for extruding a formsustaining extrudable material, comprising:

extruder tube means for holding a charge of a predetermined amount of extrudable material and having an inlet end and outlet end;

die means secured to said outlet end of said extruder tube means;

means communicating with said inlet end of said extruder tube means for filling said extruder tube means with said charge of material;

means for blocking the return of said charge of material through said inlet end of said extruder tube means;

means for moving said extruder tube means relative to said blocking means to force the extrudable material through said die means;

means for supporting said extruded charge of material;

and

means for severing the extruded material from the material in said die means.

17. The extruder mechanism defined by claim 16, wherein said supporting means includes an elongated element that partially is within said die means when said material begins to be extruded whereby the material is extruded over and remains on said elongated element as said extruder tube means is moved and passes therearound.

18. The extruder mechanism defined by claim 17, wherein said elongated elements is a stick.

19. The extruder mechanism defined by claim 16, wherein said filling means includes a reservoir tube and said extruder tube means includes an extruder tube, and said blocking means includes a second charge of extrudable material within said reservoir tube.

20. The extruder mechanism defined by claim 16, wherein said filling means includes an inner reservoir tube and said extruder tube means includes an outer extruder tube circumscribing said reservoir tube and said blocking means includes a second charge of extrudable material within said reservoir tube.

.21. The extruder mechanism defined by claim 20, wherein said die means is selectively interchangable to provide a variety of orifice shapes.

22. The extruder mechanism defined by claim 20, wherein said inner reservoir tube includes an outlet end communicating with said outer extruder tube and an inlet end and said filling means further includes supply means communicating with said inlet end of said reservoir tube and wherein said blocking means includes gate means for closing said inlet end of said reservoir tube.

23. An extruder mechanism comprising:

an inner reservoir tube having inlet and outlet openings;

an outer extruder tube slidably circumscribing said reservoir tube and having an inlet opening communicating with said outlet opening of said reservoir tube;

a die covering the outlet opening of said outer extruder tube and having an opening of a predetermined shape;

supply means for introducing an extrudable formsustaining material into said reservoir and outer extruder tubes with sufiicient pressure to extend said outer extruder tube outwardly of said reservoir tube;

means for blocking the inlet opening of said reservoir tube while said outer extruder tube is retracted back over said reservoir tube;

means for reciprocating said outer extruder tube between said extended and retracted positions for extruding the material through said die opening when said outer extruder tube is retracted against the material therein; and

means for severing the extruded material from the material in said outer extruder tube.

24. An extruder mechanism for a form-sustaining extrudable material, comprising:

vertically disposed extruder tube means for holding a charge of a predetermined amount of extrudable material and having an inlet end and an outlet end;

die means secured to said outlet end of said extruder tube means;

means communicating with said inlet end of said chamber means for filling said extruder tube means with said charge of material;

means for blocking the return of said charge of material through said inlet end of said extruder tube means;

die means secured to said outlet end of said chamber means;

means communicating with said inlet end of said chamber means for filling said extruder tube means with said charge of material;

means for blocking the return of said charge of material through said inlet end of said extruder tube means;

means for moving said extruder tube means vertically relative to said blocking means to force the extrudable material through said die means;

means for supporting said extruded charge of material;

and

means for severing the extruded material from the remaining material.

25. The extruder mechanism defined by claim 24, wherein said extruder tube means outlet end is the upper end of said extruder tube means.

26. The extruder defined by claim 24, wherein said filling means includes an inner reservoir tube and said extruder tube means includes an outer extruder tube circumscribing said reservoir tube and said blocking means includes a second charge of extrudable material within said reservoir tube and slidable gate means for closing otf the lower end of said reservoir tube.

27. The extruder mechanism defined by claim 24, wherein said filling means further includes a freezing 17 tube communicating with said reservoir tube having at least one form-sustaining charge of material and means for transferring the charge of form-sustaining material to said reservoir tube.

28. The extruder mechanism defined by claim 27, wherein said means for transferring the charge of material includes an elongated pusher rod.

29. An extruder mechanism for a form-sustaining extrudable material, comprising:

extruder tube means extendable for holding a charge of a predetermined amount of extrudable material and having an inlet and an outlet end;

die means secured to said outlet end of said chamber means;

means communicating with said oulet end of said chamber means for filling said extruder tube means with said charge of material and including an inner reservoir tube and an elongated cylindrical freezing tube selectively communicating with said inner reservoir tube and having at least one form-sustaining charge of material and means for transferring the charge of form-sustaining material to said reservoir tube;

means for retracting said extruder tube means to extrude said charge of material; and

means for severing said extruded material from said remaining material.

30. The extruder mechanism defined by claim 29, wherein said freezing tube contains three charges of form-sustaining material.

31. The extruder mechanism defined by claim 29,

wherein said severing means includes a pair of opposed plates selectively slidable toward one another.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,759,434 9/1956 Hensgeu et a1. l0754 3,344,752 10/1967 Ilines 10714 3,489,103 1/1970 Hirahara et al. 107-8 HENRY S. JAUDON, Primary Examiner 

